Illuminated wrench system

ABSTRACT

A tool system includes a first tool having a work area and a light source position inside the tool. The light source is adapted to illuminate the work area. A base has a first port, wherein the first tool can be mounted in the first port.

REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENT

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/046,341, filed Apr. 18, 2008. Priority of the aforementionedfiling date is hereby claimed and the disclosure of the ProvisionalPatent Application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a tool system. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to a system of tools having an integratedlighting and charging mechanism.

A user of a tool, such as a wrench, must often work in an work areawhere there is little or no light available. In order to adequately viewthe work area, the user must secure a separate source of light, such asa flashlight or a lamp, to illuminate the work area. This can be acumbersome process as the user is required to grasp the separate lightsource with one hand while using the tool with the other hand. It canalso be unsafe since the user can be required to divide his or herattention between use of the tool and use of the light source.

Moreover, the user may not have a light source handy, which may requirethe user to leave the work area to look for a source of light. This canbe a time consuming and frustrating process particularly for a user thatwants to focus on the job at hand, which is using the tool.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a tool or a system oftools that have a readily available source of light for illuminating awork area of the tool. In one aspect, there is disclosed a tool system,comprising: a first tool having a work area; a light source positioninside the tool, wherein the light source is adapted to illuminate thework area; and a base having a first port, wherein the first tool can bemounted in the first port.

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of various embodiments, which illustrate, by way of example,the principles of the disclosed devices and methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a tool system having at least one tool,such as a wrench, that removably mounts onto a base.

FIG. 1B shows the system with the wrench removed from the base.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the wrench in an assembled state.

FIG. 3 shows the wrench in an exploded state.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a housing of the wrench with an uppercover removed.

FIG. 5 shows the wrench with an internal light source in an “on” statesuch that a beam of light is focused on or near the vicinity of thewrench head.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the wrench that includes a slidable switchfor toggling the light source between on and off states.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the tool system.

FIG. 8 shows an assembled view of another embodiment of the tool system.

FIG. 9 shows view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 with a plastic coverremoved from the central section.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment of a removably mounted light assemblyfor a tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a tool system comprised a tool, such as a wrench, thatincludes an internal light source that can be illuminated to focus abeam of light towards a work area for the tool, such as toward the heador heads of the wrench. In an embodiment, the system includes a basethat removably receives a set of tools, such as a set of wrenches. Thebase can be used to store the tools during non-use of the tools. Each ofthe tools includes an internal light source that can be illuminated tofocus a beam of light towards a work area for the tool, such as towardthe head or heads of the wrench. The focuses light advantageouslyilluminates the work area while the tool is in use so that the user ofthe tool does not need to grasp or otherwise obtain a separate lightsource for illumination. In an embodiment, each of the tools includes aninternal battery that is charged by coupling the tool to the base. Inthis manner, the tools can be stored on the base during non-use so thatthe batteries remain charged and ready for use when a need for the toolsarise.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a tool system comprised of at least onetool, such as a wrench 105, that removably mounts onto a base 110. Thebase 110 includes a plurality of ports 115 wherein each port 115 isconfigured to removably receive a wrench 105. The quantity of ports canvary such as based on the quantity of tools in the set. FIG. 1A showsonly a single wrench 105 of the tool system for clarity of illustration.It should be appreciated that the actual tool system can include aplurality of wrenches 105 that are each configured to removably dockonto a respective port 115 of the base 110. For example, the system caninclude several wrenches of different sizes such that the base 110 canreceive an entire set of wrenches.

The tool is described herein for purposes of example as being a wrench.However, it should be appreciated that the tool can be any of a varietyof tool types and that the tool is not limited to being a wrench. Forexample, the tool can be a screwdriver or any other tool that is adaptedfor use in a work space. The base 110 is adapted to be portable or itcan be adapted to be mounted on a work surface or on a wall.

FIG. 1B shows the system with the wrench 105 removed from the base 110.A user can mount the wrench 105 to the base 110 during non-use of thewrench. In this manner, the base 110 conveniently serves as a means ofstorage for the wrench 105. Moreover, the base 110 serves as a chargerfor charging an internal battery within the wrench 105 that powers aninternal light source, as described more fully below. Each of the ports115 has one or more leads that interface with electronic componentswithin the wrench for charging the battery within the wrench. The base110 includes means for coupling the base to a source of power such aselectrical power. In this regard, the base 110 can couple to a separatebattery or it can couple to an AC electrical source in a well knownmanner.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the wrench 105 in an assembled statewhile FIG. 3 shows the wrench in an exploded state. The wrench includesat least one work region comprised of a head 205 that is configured tocouple to a bolt or nut for applying torque thereto. The work region isthe region of a tool where the tool performs work or couples to anothertool. In this regard, the head 205 is an open-ended head with a U-shapedopening that grips two opposite faces of the bolt or nut. It should beappreciated that the wrench is not limited to an open ended head, butcan include various other types of heads that couples to a bolt, nut, oranything else that requires the application of torque. The wrench 105 isshown as a double-ended wrench such that there is a head 205 on each ofopposite ends, although the wrench does not need to be double ended. Theheads or any other region of the wrench can include one or more labelssuch as to provide an indication of the size of the tool.

The work area of the tool can vary based on the type of tool. Forexample, in the case of a wrench the work area can be the head of thewrench that is adapted to interface with a nut or bolt. In the case of ascrew driver, the work area can be the head of the screw driver thatinterfaces with a screw. The screw driver can have any type of head suchas a Phillips head, a flat head, or an Allen-type head. As mentioned,the type of tool can vary as can the type and location of the work areaof the tool.

The wrench 105 includes an elongated handle 210 having opposite ends onwhich are positioned the heads 205. A central housing 215 is positionedon the handle such as at or in the region of the midpoint location ofthe handle. The housing 215 is sized and shaped to removably mountwithin one of the ports 115 of the base 110 (FIG. 1). In this regard,the housing 215 can have a rounded or enlarged shape relative to thehandle 210. Such a shape can facilitate docking into a port 115 and canalso facilitate grasping of the handle. It should be appreciated thatthe shape of the housing 215 can vary and that the housing can beintegral with the handle or monolithic with the handle. The housing 215contains an internal cavity that houses electronic components and alight source for providing light to the heads 205 of the wrench 105, asdescribed in detail below.

Each of the heads 205 has an opening 220 that communicates with the alight source inside the housing 215 via an internal light shaft. Thehousing contains a light source, which provides light to the heads 205of the wrench 105 such as a focused beam of light. This is described inmore detail with reference to FIG. 3, which shows an exploded view ofthe wrench 105. The housing 215 is formed of an upper cover 305 and alower cover 310 that removably couple to a central seat or opening 315in the handle 210 to collectively enclose the internal cavity of thecover. Attachment devices, such as screws 318, can be used to secure thecovers 305, 310 to one another and to the handle 210. The size, shape,and structural configuration of the housing 215 may vary, as may theinternal components of the housing 215.

As mentioned, the housing 215 contains a light source 320, such as alight emitting diode (LED) or any other type of light source. The lightsource 320 is coupled to electronic components such as a printed circuit(PC) board 325 and a battery 330 for providing power to the light source320. The battery 330 is automatically charged when the wrench 105 ismounted onto one of the ports in the base 110. The PC board 325 iscoupled to a button 335 that can be actuated by a user to toggle thelight source 320 between an “on” state in which the light source isilluminated and an “off” state in which the light source is notilluminated. The button 335 is sized and shaped to be positioned withinan opening in the upper cover 305. It should be appreciated that meansother than a button can be employed to turn the light source on and off.

With further reference to FIG. 3, a pair of elongated, tubular focusingmeans or lenses 340 are sized and shaped to be positioned within a pairof internal shafts. The lenses can be any type of device that transmitsand/or focuses light, such as an optical fiber. In an embodiment, thelens 340 is made of plastic and is press fit into a shaft or openingthat extends through the handle. The internal shafts run the length ofthe handle 210 from the housing 215 to the heads 205. When the lenses340 are mounted within the internal shafts, the lenses provide a meansof focusing and directing light from the light source 320 to each of theheads 205 of the wrench. In this manner, a focused beam of light can bedirected from the illuminated light source 320 to one or more of theheads 205. It should be appreciated that the wrench can include anyquantity of light sources within the housing 215 and that the type oflight source can vary. An LED is particularly useful since it canprovide a narrow spectrum beam of light of various colors.

In an embodiment, the lens 340 is a fiber optic cable or a bundle offiber optic cables that carries light from a light source to the workarea of the tool.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the housing 215 with the upper cover305 removed and the button 335 lifted upward relative to the electroniccomponents to reveal the internal cavity within the housing 215. The PCboard 325 is sized to fit snug within the housing 215. The light source320 mounts within the housing such that it is positioned immediatelyadjacent the internal shaft that houses the lens 340 within the handle.In this manner, the light source 320 is positioned so that it can directlight toward the lens 340 where the light can be focused or otherwisetransmitted toward the respective wrench head.

The wrench can include more than one light sources such as a lightsource dedicated to each one of the wrench heads 205. In this regard,the housing contains a seat 405 for each light source 320 wherein theseat 405 positions the light source 320 adjacent a respective internalshaft and lens. In the actual device, a light source 320 would bepositioned in the seat 405.

In use, the wrench 105 is removed from the base 110. As mentioned, thebase 110 can include a set of wrenches comprised of a plurality ofwrenches of various sizes. The user can select a wrench of desired sizeand then remove the wrench from the base 110 for use. As discussed, thebattery should be in a charged state when the wrench is removed from thebase since the battery automatically charges while the wrench is mountedon the base. The user couples one of the wrench heads 205 to a nut,bolt, or other work space device to which torque is to be applied.

If the user desires to illuminate the work space, the user simplypresses the button 335 to power the internal light source 320. Thiscauses a focused beam of light to travel from the light source, throughthe lens in the handle, and out of the opening in the wrench head. FIG.5 shows the wrench 105 with the light source in an illuminated or “on”state such that a beam of light (represented by arrow L in FIG. 5)passes in the vicinity of the wrench head 205. In this manner, the workarea of the tool is illuminated.

It should be appreciated that the tool system is not limited to thespecific embodiments described herein. Some additional embodiments arenow described. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the wrench that includes aslidable switch 605 for toggling the light source between the on and offstates. It should be appreciated that any type of actuation system canbe used for turning the light source on and off and that various typesof movements or actuation mechanisms can be used for this purpose.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the tool system. In this embodiment,each of the wrenches 105 is a single ended wrench with a single head 205comprised of an open-ended head with a U-shaped opening that grips twoopposite faces of the bolt or nut. The end opposite the head 205 is aninterface 710 that couples to the base 110 for securing the wrench tothe base 110 and charging the internal battery. The ports are in theform of pockets that receive the interfaces 710 of the wrenches. Variousmechanisms and configurations can be used to couple the wrench to thebase. Moreover, the tool does not have to be a wrench but can be anytype of tool that would benefit from a focused beam of light on thetool's work area.

FIG. 8 shows an assembled view of another embodiment of the tool system.FIG. 9 shows view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 with a plastic coverremoved from the central section. In this embodiment, the centralhousing 215 of the wrench 105 includes a cover 805 that snaps onto orotherwise removably mounts onto the wrench. As shown in FIG. 9, thecover 805 can be removed from the central housing 215. The removal canoccur in a variety of manners. For example, the cover 805 can transition(such as in a sliding fashion) to a locked state wherein the cover 805is secured to the central section, and an unlocked state wherein thecover 805 is removed or partially removed from the central section. Inthe unlocked state, the cover 805 is in a position such that a batterycompartment in the central section is exposed to permit removal andinstallation of the battery 330.

In another embodiment, the housing 215 is not mounted in an opening onthe handle of the wrench. Rather, the housing is movably and/orremovably mounted on a standard wrench or on some portion of the tool.FIGS. 10 and 11 show an embodiment of a light housing 1005 that isadapted to be removably and/or movably mounted on a handle portion of awrench. In this regard, the wrench may be a standard wrench having ahead and an elongate handle that extends from the head. For example, thewrench may be configured as the wrench shown in FIG. 2 but without thecentral housing 215 in the middle of the handle 210.

The housing 1005 has an upper component 1010 and a lower component 1015with a passageway 1020 defined therebetween. The passageway is size andshaped to receive a portion of tool, such as to slidably receive thehandle of a wrench. One or more members 1020 may be positioned insidethe passageway 1020 to abut the handle of the wrench such as to providean interfering press fit and maintain the housing in a fixed position onthe handle. The members 1020 may be flexible or deformable such thatpressure may be exerted thereon to temporarily deform the members andpermit repositioning of the housing 1005 on the handle.

The upper component 1015 of the housing 1005 contains a light sourceand/or electronic components that are adapted to transmit light, such asvia a lens 1025. In this regard, the housing 1005 may contain one ormore of the components contained in the housing 215 described above andmay also include any other external components that permit the housingto generate and transmit light. The housing 100 5 includes a button 1035or other actuation element that can be actuated to turn on or turn offthe light of the housing 1015. The upper component 1015 may optionallybe rotatably mounted on the lower component to permit variation in thedirection of illumination of the light source.

The upper component 1015 and the lower component 1020 can be detachedfrom one another and mounted over the handle of a standard wrench withthe handle positioned in the passageway 1020. This permits the housing1005 to be slidably positioned to a desired location on the handle. Inan embodiment, the light source can be illuminated in various manners,such as high, low, flashing, etc. The housing 1015 can include arechargeable battery.

Although embodiments of various methods and devices are described hereinin detail with reference to certain versions, it should be appreciatedthat other versions, embodiments, methods of use, and combinationsthereof are also possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of thedisclosed devices and methods should not be limited to the descriptionof the embodiments contained herein.

1. A tool system, comprising: a first tool having a work area, the firsttool comprising a wrench having a wrench head; a light source positionedinside the tool and coupled to the wrench head, wherein the light sourceis adapted to illuminate the work area and wherein the light source andthe wrench head are simultaneously part of the first tool; an elongatedlens that extends from a location of the light source to the wrenchhead, the elongated lens configured to focus light from the light sourcetoward the wrench head; a base having a first port, wherein the firsttool can be mounted in the first port.
 2. A system as in claim 1,further comprising a second tool and a second port in the base, whereinthe second tool can be mounted in the second port.
 3. A system as inclaim 1, further comprising a battery mounted in the first tool, whereinthe base is adapted to charge the battery when the first tool is mountedin the first port.
 4. A system as in claim 1, further comprising aswitch coupled to the first tool, wherein the switch can be used to turnthe light source on and off.
 5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the workarea is an open ended head of the wrench, the open ended head adapted tobe coupled to a nut or bolt.
 6. A system as in claim 1, wherein thelight source is a light emitting diode.
 7. A system as in claim 1,wherein the first tool has a handle and wherein the light source ismounted inside the handle.